Paddle key

ABSTRACT

A TELEGRAPH KEY OF THE PADDLE TYPE IS PROVIDED WHICH IS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE WITH AN ELECTRONIC KEYER WHEREIN THE PADDLE IS PROVIDED WITH A CROSSMEMBER AGAINST WHICH A SPRING MOUNTED PLATE PRESSES. THE SPRING MOUNTED PLATE CENTERS THE KEYING PADDLE AND ADJUSTMENTS ARE PROVIDED FOR TENSION AND INDIVIDUALLY FOR THE ARC THROUGH WHICH THE PADDLE MOVES FOR MAKING DOTS AND DASHES.

l l. States tn [H1395 3 [72] Inventor Merritt A. Clover [56] ReferencesCited 2234 Fernwood Court, Hayward, Calif. UNITED STATES PATENTS [211App]. No. 832,0d5 {22] Filed lflumlhww 3,166,638 1/1965 Hills 178/108[45} Patented June 28, 1971 Primary Examiner-William C. Cooper AssistantExaminer-William A. Helvestine Attorney-Eckhoff and l-loppe AESTRACT: Atelegraph key of the paddle type is provided [54] PADDLE KEY whichisparticularly adapted for use with an electronic keyer wherein the paddleIS provided with a crossmember against 5 Claims, i Drawing Figs.

which a spring mounted plate presses. The spring mounted [52] [1.8. Ci178/108 plate centers the keying paddle and adjustments are provided lll-ll0ll1 21/86 for tension and individually for the are through whichthe pad- [SO] Field of Search 178/108 dle moves for making dots anddashes.

PATENTEU JUH28 I9?! ATTONEV5 mnuLEitEv SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONElectronic keyers have become popular in recent years since they greatlyfacilitate telegraphic communication by providing the proper length,spacing and repetition rate of the elements constituting a codecharacter. Many such keyers incorporate memory elements so that oneelement of a code character can be keyed into the device while theprevious element is still being sent, yet the device will provide theproper space and element length. In order to actuate such keyers, a formof telegraph key must be used which has individual contacts for the dotsand dashes. The keyers heretofore proposed have been largelyunsatisfactory since it is difficult to set them up to provide for theexact characteristics or feel desired by the user. Further, such deviceshave suffered from the defect that even if they are once properlyadjusted, they rapidly get out of adjustment.

The paddle key of the present invention, is of rugged con struction andallows the operator to readily adjust the desired degree of tension andthe key will maintain this adjustment for long periods of time. Further,the moving parts of the key are of very light construction facilitatingrapid sending. Additionally, the distance through which the paddle movesto form the dots and dash characters can be easily adjusted to suit thepreference of the user and they will maintain this adjustment for longperiods of time. The operator can easily make II'ldividual adjustmentsof the dot and dash contacts and provide for different spacing betweenthe dot and dash contacts if this is desired.

The key is provided with antifriction bearings so that it is extremelylight to the touch. Locking means are provided for the paddle armbearings, the spring plate bearings and all of the various adjustmentsso that once adjusted, the key will stay in a condition of adjustmentalmost indefinitely. The key is provided with a heavy base so that it isnot necessary to fasten it down while the paddle arm itself ispreferably made of light metal, such as aluminum, so that it has theminimum ofinertia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of a keyerembodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view ofthe keyer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation ofthe keyer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The keyer of the present inventionincludes a base generally designated 5 having an upright 7 near one endthereof terminating in an overhanging arm 9. Mounted between arm 9 andthe base 5 on ball bearings 11 and I3 is the paddle generally designated15. Paddle 15 has an elongated central section as at 17, a fingerengaging end 19 which may be provided with a suitable knob or grip 21and a pivot end 23, the bottom and top of which are slightly dished toreceive the bearings II and 13. In order to provide for the exact degreeof freedom desired, the roller bearing 13 is mounted on the base 5 bymeans of an adjusting screw 23 having a cupped end and the adjustingscrew in turn is locked when a desired adjust ment is obtained by meansofa second screw 25 which presses against a soft, metal slug 27 so thatthe screw 23 is securely locked in place, yet the soft metal 27 preventsthe threads from being damaged.

At the pivot end 13 of the paddle there is provided a crossmembergenerally designated 28 having ends 29 and 31. The crossmember 28 isformed integral with the body ofthe paddle and the crossmember can beconnected to the body by means of fillets 33 so that the paddle and thecrossmember have rigidity without excess weight. At the ends ofthecrossmember miniature ball bearings 35 and 37 are preferably mounted.

In order to center the paddle, a backing plate 39 is provided which ispivoted near its bottom on bearings 41 and 43 which are adjusted bymeans of screws 45 and 47. These screws in turn are locked when adesired adjustment is achieved in the same manner as was previouslydescribed in conjunction with screw 23, namely by means ofclampingscrews 49 terminating in soft metal slugs 51. Backing plate 39 ishardened to avoid undue wear at point of bearing contact.

Tension is applied to the backing plate 39 by means of a spring mountedplunger 53 having a tension spring 55. The degree of tension isdetermined by screw 57 which passes through arm 7 and which is providedwith a locking screw 59. Since the backing plate 39 presses against thebearings 35 and 37 mounted on the crossarm 28, it is obvious the tensionon the spring 55 will result in centering the paddle. At the same time,the paddle can be moved to the right or the left freely and as thepaddle is moved, one of the bearings will be brought out of contact withthe backing plate but that as soon as one releases the paddle, it willimmediately return to the center position by means of the spring action.

In order to provide the key circuit, insulated dot and dash contacts,respectively 61 and 63 are provided on opposite sides of the paddle armat a convenient point intermediate to pivot point and the terminal endof the paddle. Since these are mirror images of each other, only one isdescribed in detail. For this purpose an insulated post 65 is providedhaving a suitable electrical contact 67 at the bottom of the base. Theinsulated post 65 is threaded to receive a screw 69 which has a head 71and an electrical contact, preferably a silver 73. The threads on thepost are pinched in as at 75 so that the screw will be gripped and willstay in adjustment once the desired adjustment is achieved. In theembodiment illustrated, the paddle arm was made of aluminum which wasdrilled and with a brass slug 77 inserted therein to which silvercontacts as at 79 are soldered on both sides. Obviously other methodsoffasten ing the contacts to the arm could be employed.

Different operators desire different degrees of tension on the key andalso different angles of throw. The tension on the key is easilyadjustable by turning the screw 59 and once the desired tension isachieved, the screw is locked in place by means of nut 59 and thetension will be held at the desired point indefinitely. To adjust thethrow, the contact screws are adjusted to the clearance desired by theoperator. The amount of throw need not be the same on the dot and dashsides if the operator so desires. Once adjusted, the arc of throw willremain constant since the pinched in portion 75 will prevent the contactscrews from turning.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided atelegraph key which is rugged in structure, which has a rigid yet lightpaddle arm and which can be adjusted to an operators individualpreference and maintain the adjustment indefinitely.

Although the telegraph key would lllormally be used with an electronickeyer it could, of course, be used to normally form the dot and dashesif the operator desires.

I claim:

I. A telegraph key of the paddle type wherein the paddle is actuatedback and forth in a horizontal plane to engage dot and dash contacts onopposite sides of the paddle comprising in combination:

a. a base;

b. a paddle pivotally mounted on said base for horizontal motion;

. said paddle having a pivot end and a finger engaging end and being ofgenerally elongated configuration;

d. a fixed crossmember attached to the pivot end ofthe paddle at a rightangle to the long dimension of the paddle and extending for equaldistances on each side ofthe paddle;

. a spring mounted member pressing against at least the extremities ofsaid crossmember, whereby;

. said paddle is normally maintained in a centered position by saidspring mounted member but can be moved from side to side against theaction of said spring mounted member.

2. The key of claim 1 wherein the spring mounted member comprises a flatplate having horizontal pivots displaced from the crossmember with anadjustable spring urging said plate into contact with the crossmember.

member.

4. The key ofclaim 1 wherein the paddle is pivoted on balls.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein a dot contact and a dash 3. The keyof claim 2 wherein the ends of the crossmember 5 coma are provided onopposne sldes of the paddle and are provided with antifriction bearings,said bearings providing contact between said flat plate and the ends ofsaid crosswherein the contacts are individually adjustable.

